5 Most Influential Contemporary Trans Artists

Hello, lovelies! In light of the past Transgender Day of Visibility, I thought I could come up with a post honoring that. Today I’m gonna tell you all about some trans artists that should be on your radar. Because we’ve done plenty of posts related to musicians, we are going to leave them out just for this one.

The artists in the following list are all advocates for LGBT+ rights and are very influential in their fields. Whether you are into photography, literature, poetry, or even all combined, you have to keep an eye on these art dwellers. All with their unique style and driving inspiration from their experiences as trans persons, keep reading to find out who they are!

1. Wu Tsang

Wu Tsang is a multi-faceted artist and filmmaker. She not only uses art as a form of expression but also as a way to raise awareness of trans rights around the world. In her work, she defies traditional Hollywood stereotypes and brings into the spotlight profound questions about gender. Politics is also very intertwined in her work, as it should be to closely represent reality. Her mixed ethnicity and experiences are all but overlooked in her work, as you can sense the raw humanity coming out the screen. If you are interested in Tsang’s work, you can start with “Dámelo Todo” (“Give it All to Me”). A story about a refugee from El Salvador that questions his gender identity along the journey.

2. Yishay Garbasz

Yishay Garbasz is an Israeli photographer, film-maker, sculptor, performer, and many more! With a strong family history that inspires her work, she explores the consequences of post-traumatic experiences. She is a Holocaust survivor’s daughter, which had influenced her as an artist. She explores with her camera the places where her mother spent time during World War II. A truly moving work of photography. Another one of her most known works is “Ritual and Reality”.

In this one, she collects scenes of the post-nuclear explosion of Fukushima. If you are into photography, I recommend you give her works a peek. You may find inspiration in these unique images!

3. Charlie Jane Anders

If you are a nerd in a good way like me, you should recognize this writer on the spot. Charlie Jane Anders is a prolific award-winning writer who not only writes fiction novels. Many of her works are political and sociological essays exploring the gender and sex norm adopted by most of the world. She is also a great activist that through her work exposes the light questions that should receive more attention from the media. In her fiction, you will find inspiring characters and amazing world settings. “The City in the Middle of the Night” is a sci-fi novel in which humanity lives in extreme conditions that radically change from day to night.

4. The Wanchowski Sisters

I have written before about these two incredible directors. Lana and Lily are responsible for “The Matrix” and “Sense8”, among others. They made their debut with “Bound” in 1996, and afterward reached world recognition with their take on the digital world and future of humanity. Ahead of their times in regards to many aspects, all their work has been influenced by their identity as trans women. It is pretty clear the presence of trans and non-binary characters in their stories. Sexuality is also addressed without the stereotypical and traditional lens. Recently they released the last installment of “The Matrix” franchise which has been well received by the critics.

5. Julia Serrano

The last artist of this post is a woman of letters. Julia Serrano is an American writer well-known for her activism and works on trans people’s rights. Born in 1967, she started identifying as a woman at the young age of 11. She started crossdressing until later in life when she transitioned. She is also recognized as an inspiring public speaker, and her work explores many sexualities and gender topics. “Whipping Girl” is one of her most recognized books and here she explores the root of transphobia. In this transfeminist manifesto, the influence of her experiences as a member of the LGBT community is pretty clear and her words reach a soft spot. You will find this feeling of impotence throughout all her books.  “Excluded”, “Outspoken”, and “99 Erics” are other of her works.

These are just some of my favorite and most influential trans artists active today. I’m sure that you will find yourself traversing a whirlwind of emotions with the works of these creators. I’m sure that many would miss musicians to inspire your femme routine, but don’t worry we’ll have more of those in the future! Let me know in the comments below what are your favorite trans artists and art forms! Art is the purest form of communication and can visualize realities often overlooked. I hope you enjoyed this post and find some inspiration in these artists’ work.